Switch mechanism



SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Nov. 16, 1940 RNEY Patented Oct. 14, 1941 UNITED STATES .PATENT IoFFIc-E IJSWHCAMSM v Application November 16, 1940, Serial No. 365,885

4 Claims.

My invention relates generally to switch mechanisms, and particularly to switch mechanisms for making and breaking electrical circuits. As will be apparent from the following specification thereof, my invention is capable of many uses and applications, and it is only for purposes of convenience and not for limitation that I describe same in relation to an electric flash light. My invention is to be limited only by the scope of the annexed claims.

The main object of my invention is the provision of a switch mechanism, certain parts f which are screw-threadedly secured together, which parts are slidable laterally with respect to each other to make and break the circuit.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a switch mechanism, certain parts of which are screw threaded together, the threads being of such construction as to permit lateral' sliding movement of the parts relative to each other.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a switch mechanism, the component parts of which are screw-threadedly secured together,

and in which the width of each of the individual threads is but a fraction of the width of the space or distance between the threads, so as to provide room for lateral sliding movement of the screwed together parts relative to each other.

Other objects of my invention will in part be obvious, and others will be pointed out specifically in connection with the following description of an illustrative embodiment.

In the drawings annexed hereto and forming a part hereof:

The figure is a central longitudinal cross-sectional view of one form of device constructed according to and embodying my invention.

Reference numeral I0 indicates the device generally, which comprises a cylindrical casing I2 and a circular head portion I4, fitting onto the casing. One end of casing I2 is partially closed, as by means of an inwardly extending annular shoulder I6, defining a central aperture I8. The other end of casing I2 is provided on its outer surface with a square male thread 22, the width of each individual thread 24 being but a fraction of the width of the inter-thread groove 26, for the purposes to be explained below,

Head portion I4 is also circular, of such diameter as to fit onto casing I2, and the leading end 28 thereof is formed with an annular, inwar-dly extending shoulder 30, providing a circular opening 32 through which the light from within the casing may be projected. The other end 34 of 4.. fik) head I4 is provided, on its inner surface, with a square thread 36, and here again the width of each individual thread 38 is a fraction of the width of the inter-thread grooves 40; the pitch and dimensions of threads 22 and 36 being the same.

The battery 60 is disposed within easing I2, and the bulb and reflector assembly are mounted Within head I4. The lens 40 is first disposed within head I4, and secured against shoul-der 30 by means of split ring 42. The bulb 44 is threaded into reflector 46, and placed within head I4 against shoulder 48. A flat circular plate is provided and disposed within casmg I2 against shoulder I6. A circular coil spring 52 is then fitted into casing I2 against plate 50, and an elongated flat member link 54 is provided eX- tending from spring 52 in the bottom of casing I2 to the top of casing I2 at which point it is held in position against sidewise movement within the guideway formed by a pair of walls 56, and also by a bent over tip end portion 58 thereof.

By my arrangement, the head and casing may be moved laterally with respect to each other to make and break the circuit. The circuit may be made or broken in other ways.

When the two end portions I2 and I4 are screwed together, as shown in full lines in Figure 1, the battery and reflector and link assembly will all be held in their illustrated positions against dislodgment. When it is desired to complete the circuit, all the way from battery 60, through coil spring 52, link 54, reflector 48, bulb 44, back to battery 60, the head member assembly I is moved or shifted laterally against casing I2 into the dotted line position shown in the drawing. This sliding movement, against the tension of spring 52, brings the underside of reflector 48, of conductive material, into contact with the leading and bent-over end l58 of link 54, also of conductive material, completing the circuit. As an alternative method, plate 50 is pushed inwardly, through opening I8. This forward movement, tensioned by spring 52, will shift battery 6i! and link end 58 forward until contact is made against the underside of reflector 48 completing the circuit.

The end members I2, I4 are always screwthreadedly secured together, yet are slidably or shiftably movable laterally with respect to each other, and it is the provision of my particular type and size and width of thread which permits this relative lateral movement in the making and breaking of the circuit. Casing I2 and head I4 may be formed, as by molding or otherwise, of any suitable material, and the other parts of my device are of such simple construction as to permit of inexpensive and simple manufacture and assembly.

Having now described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A switch mechanism for an electrical circuit comprising a pair of members screw-threadedly secured together, and means to permit relative lateral movement between said members to make and break the circuit, which means com'- prise a loose lateral engagement between the screw-threadedly secured together members.

2. A switch mechanism comprising a pair of members, screw thread means to secure same together, and a loose lateral t between the screw threads to permit shifting of said members laterally with respect to each other.

3. A switch mechanism comprising a pair o f members and screw thread means on each thereof to secure same together, the width of each thread being a fraction of the width between the threads.

4. A switch mechanism comprising a pair of members, screw threads on the outside of one and screw threads on the inside of the other, said members being threadedly secured together, the width of the respective threads being but a fraction of the distance between the threads, said secured-together members being relatively 15 shiftable laterally to make and break a circuit.

GUSTAVE G'. HAGER. 

